The Following Group

From: Ty

Subject: The underground trail; hiding

Sa'id's plan is a good one, and the party begins moving as quickly as possible toward the next junction. Now that he knows they are being followed, Rennik cringes at every sound the group makes. Sa'id, Farron, and Mission are all actually fairly quiet when they walk. Garyth, in his leather armor, only makes noise when he runs into something. But Cadfael, dressed in metal and with a shield banging on his back, sounds like a box full of scrap metal being shaken by a giant. Or, at least, that's how it sounds to the halfling now.

A few minutes bring the party to the next junction. Everyone quickly moves into the northbound side tunnel, and Sa'id begins his spell. Rennik tells everyone to stay absolutely silent, and grips Tichenor by the scruff to keep him from moving. The cunning wolf seems to understand the situation though, and sits on his haunches.

Before Sa'id can finish his spell, Mission gives an exasperated sigh, and reaches out to pluck the glowing glove out of Cadfael's belt. He sticks it under his shirt just the spell finishes, and the tunnel is plunged into darkness. It is difficult to tell if the spell worked or not, because this stretch of tunnel has no openings, and no light.

Time passes, with only the occasional scuff sound of someone shifting their feet, and the quiet panting of the wolf. After a while, distant talking can be heard. As it grows closer, it becomes clear that whoever is out there is making no attempt to hide themselves. They talk loudly, with occasional loud laughs. They are also carrying light of some kind, as the east bound tunnel begins to slowly brighten with a red glow.

The group passes the junction a few moments later, and their light brightens the side tunnels as well. The party tenses, but the spell must have worked, because even though several from the passing group glance down both side tunnels, no one gives them a second look. The group itself is five men, though one of them barely fits that description. Four of them look like ordinary city ruffians. Only one of the four is wearing armor, and his armor is cheaply made leather. All four carry weapons of a cutthroat sort; short swords and long knives. The fifth figure is somewhat more intimidating. He stands six and half feet high at least, and fairly bulges with muscle. His wart covered skin has an odd greenish gray cast to it, and his face is hideous. His lower jaw juts out, and a pair of flattened tusks peek out from his lip. His nose if flat, and his brow sloped. Farron, Sa'id, and Mission have all seen such a creature before, and Farron says in a whisper so low that even those right next to him can barely hear it, "Half Orc."

While his human companions appear to be only thugs, the half orc has a hard look of competence to him. His light armor is well oiled and well kept. Carried across one shoulder is an enormous polearm, with a double headed axe at each end. Rennik recognizes the weapon as an orcish double axe, a weapon that is very difficult to use, but extremely dangerous in the hands of a master. Of greater concern to the halfling is the casual way the brute carries it in one hand. The weapon must be extremely heavy, but the half orc carries it like it weighs nothing.

The group is moving quickly, and vanishes from view into the eastern tunnel. Their torchlight and voices continue to fade into the distance until all is silence and darkness again.

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From: Karl